HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-04-17-HC-min.pdf THE LEXINGTON HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Lexington, Massachusetts 02173
MEETING
April 17, 1980 , 7: 30 p .m. , Town Office Building, Room 111 .
Present: Anne Grady (Chair) , Sara Chase , Bebe Fallick, Norma Bogen.
Other - Peter Kaselis , Project Mgr. , MDC ; Carlton Noyes ,
Jason Cortell Assoc . ; Larry Whipple , John Davies -
Historic Districts Commission; Ruth Mitchell , Amy
Samoylenko , Elizabeth Gaughan, Abigail Brenton,
Ms . Wertz ; Bob Jeltsch, Lexington MinuteMan.
PRESERVATION WEEK AWARD
The Historical Commission' s annual preservation award will be given
to the Latons of 33 Hancock St. for their sensitive use of solar
panels for energy conservation in a historic building . At the next
meeting of LHC they will be presented with a certificate and a copy
of Joan 'Webber' s "How Old Is Your House? Ms . Chase will have the
certificate appropriately enscribed.
SUMMER INTERN
The BU Summer Intern Program is no longer operative . however, Town
Mgr. Hutchinson has approved the use of the $1650 designated for use
in conjunction with the BU program fora summer intern with appropriate
credentials . Resumes will be solicited from the National Trust , the
Univ. of Vermont, and BU . Ms . Grady will meet with Hutchinson next
week to pursue the matter further.
LHC APPOINTMENT
The search for a nevmember of the Commission is continuing.
MILLBROOK VALLEY RELIEF SEWER
Mr. Noyes of Jason Cortell Assoc . ( consultants to the MDC prime
contractor) and Peter Kaselis , Project Mgr. MDC , outlined the Mill
Valley Relief Sewer Facilities Plan, emphasizing Alternative 2 - "the
preferred plan" to construct a relief sewer along the north side of
the railroad right of way from the vicinity of the Arlington line to
Bedford St.
Comments are requested from LHC on the anticipated impact of the
proposed plan on the historic resources in the area prior to the public
hearing on May 15 .
LHC will prepare a response at its next meeting on May 5 . It appears
that there will be norrgative impacts on the structures ( only at 14
Hancock st. does the sewer come to within 8-10 feet of a structure) .
No real provision has been made to deal with archeological finds --
however, there is no evidence at the present time that there is likely
to be such a find.
Meeting of April 17, 1980 - page 2
THE LEXINGTON HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Lexington, Massachusetts 02173
RED CROSS BUILDING
LHC is investigating possible uses for the Red Cross Building. Because
housing is a stable use , this can be considered a good use for the
building. Discussion with the Housing Authority has pointed out the
difficulties of using subsidy programs ( i .e . lack of funds at the present
time , need for meeting requirements of the subsidizing agency, diffi-
culty of using the house for elderly persons , etc . ) . A visitor also
pointed out that garden furniture and the artifacts of daily living
could have a negative impact on the Buckman Tavern site .
Larry Whipple indicated he would prefer a use related to Buckman
Tavern (Exhibition ari for the Historical Society' s farm tools , for
example) . Others suggested the following: A tea room, headquarters
for the Green guides , office for a Town agency, etc . .
Eptimated cost for restoration is $56, 000-60, 000 ( estimate by Custance) .
Is this too high? Should other estimates be requested? In terms
of operating costs , the cost of security measures should be taken into
account .
Other issues: Should the Historical Society have first refusal on
the building? Should the building be owned by the town and lased,
or should it be sold? (Are the land boundaries separately defined?)
Should local industry be asked for funds?-- it could serve as a tax
shelter for them.
At the next meeting of the Historical Commission on May 5, more
discussion will be undertaken with the Historical Society.
ADJOURNIVE NT
Respectfully submitted,
NORMA BOGEI